Auto-correcting bow sight

ABSTRACT

A bow sight automatically corrects and compensates for various dynamically changing aiming, shooting, and/or environmental conditions. The bow sight can perform situation-specific aim evaluations and corrections to correct or compensate for situation-specific shooting and environmental factors, at a given time and on a per-shot basis. The bow sight includes integrated sensor-type devices, such as a range finder, an inclinometer, and an anemometer, which detects values of situation-specific shooting and environmental factors and communicates such detected values with a processor or other control device. The processor uses the situational specific data, as well as bow and arrow performance data, and data from shot calibrations, to calculate precise vertical and horizontal aim compensations required to accurately hit the desired target point. The bow sight displays a new crosshair, dot, or multiple dot set, to direct the archer to a situation-specific aiming point for the most accurate shot under those particular circumstances.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation under 35 U.S.C. §120 of co-pendingand commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/615,071, filedNov. 9, 2009 and also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 from U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/112,835, filed on Nov. 10,2008, both of which are entitled “AUTO-CORRECTING BOW SIGHT” and thecontents of both of which are herein expressly incorporated by referencein their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to hunting accessories and, moreparticularly, to devices for bow sighting devices for establishingaiming positions while using a bow.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Archery sports are growing in popularity and include, e.g., hunting,conventional target shooting, 3-D target shooting, electronic video mockhunting, and other activities. Archery technology has progressed overtime, with some of the most notable technological advancements occurringwithin the last few decades. Notable examples of such advancementsinclude the development of (i) compound bows that allow an easierbowstring draw and corresponding lower forces for holding full-drawposition of bowstrings, and higher and more consistent arrow exitvelocity, and (ii) trigger-type releases which allow a release thatprevents jerk and moving off the target at bowstring release.

Furthermore, modern archery bow and arrow systems typically includevarious aiming devices to improve shooting consistency. Such aimingdevices are commonly referred to as “sights” and allow archers to, aftersighting in the bow, align an end of a pin with an intended arrowstriking position on a target. Although sights assist an archer's aim,numerous attempts have been made to improve shooting consistency witharchery bows and arrows. For example, peep sights have been provided toallow archers to look through small portions of their bowstrings at afully drawn position to improve consistency of vertical sightingpositions. Other position consistency devices include “kisser-buttons”or other anchor point devices that provide a physical structure on thebow that contacts a reference point on the archer's body to improveconsistency of a bow-holding position and orientation prior to firing orreleasing an arrow.

Such shooting consistency aids and sights have at least some drawbacks.Pin-based sights typically include multiple sight pins that arevertically spaced from each other and positioned such that differentpins are used for shots of different yardages. A cluster of multiplepins can, at times, at least partially obscure a line of sight of thearcher. Additionally, accurate use of a multiple pin sight requiresaccurate range or target estimation by the archer. Accurately estimatingrange can prove difficult for archers, especially in, e.g., an actualhunt with game animals that are amongst obstacles and/or moving so thatan actual shooting distance varies over time. At times, archers estimateshooting distances that do not correspond wholly to a single pin,whereby the archers must recall which pins are used at certain distancesand then aim between such pins. Compounding this difficulty is that froma tree stand not only the distance changes but so does the shootingangle both of which need to be quickly estimated along with theireffects on pin selection.

Various attempts have been made to resolve such distance estimatingdifficulties. Such attempts include utilizing laser-based range findersto accurately measure distances. However, such laser-based range finderstake time to calculate the desired distance. Furthermore, suchlaser-based range finders are handheld or stand-alone units requiringarchers to use their hands to manipulate, preventing them from graspingtheir bows in a shooting alert manner and determine a target distancesimultaneously, whereby they cannot draw the bow and utilize the rangefinder at the same time. At times, the game animal does not stay stilllong enough for the archer to draw and release an arrow after findingthe range to the animal, whereby the shot opportunity is lost due to thetime required for shot preparation.

Besides estimating shooting distances, there are other factors thatarchers must consider while taking aim that are typically dynamicallychanging which are not resolved by utilizing known shooting consistencydevices. Such dynamically changing factors include shooting angle andwind factors. Shooting angle, shot angle, or the vertical angle at whichan archer holds a bow influences arrow flight ballistics, whereby anarcher must try to predict and compensate for these influences based onthe particular angle of the bow for each shot.

Attempts have been made to compensate for such shooting angle issues byproviding “pendulum-type” sights that swing and remain vertical withrespect to the ground. Such pendulum-type sights require movingcomponents that can be damaged, misaligned, or otherwise harmed by brushor other obstacles while traversing a field, woods, or other habitat onthe way to one's hunting stand, and the pendulum-type sight may notcompensate for all angles, elevations, and distances.

Regarding wind factors such as direction and speed, handheld orstand-alone anemometers are known. Such handheld or stand-aloneanemometers suffer the same drawbacks as discussed above with respect tothe laser-based range finders. Namely, the handheld or stand-aloneanemometers require an archer to physically manipulate them andcorrespondingly let go of the bow while determining the windcharacteristics. Then, once the wind characteristics are known, thearchers must once again use their best judgment on how the windcharacteristics should be compensated for, and then adjust their aimsaccordingly by, e.g., laterally or vertically displacing the sight pinfrom the desired arrow strike position on the target.

In light of the foregoing, a bow sight is desired that improves thestate of the art by overcoming the aforesaid problems of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a bow sight is providedthat allows an archer to take “dead aim” or aim directly at a target, atall times, by illuminating or otherwise displaying an aim indicator(s)that is positioned so as to compensate for situation-specific shootingand environmental factors that influence arrow flight. This can be alldone while the bow is at full draw and ready for the shot.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a bow sight isprovided that automatically corrects and compensates for variousdynamically changing aiming, shooting, and/or environmental conditions.The bow sight can include various integrated sensors or othersensing-type devices, such as a range finder, an inclinometer, and ananemometer, which communicate with a processor or other control device.The processor, based on, e.g., signals from the sensors, may illuminateone or more aim indicators provided within a sight array which includesmultiple aim indicators. In this configuration, a default sighted-inposition can be preliminarily established and designated by a first aimindicator provided within the sight array. Then, during use, the systemcan correct and compensate for factors such as distance, shot angle andwindage settings. In so doing, effects of environmental and useinfluences can be mitigated by changing a discrete position of the aimindicator within the sight array based on, e.g., shooting angle, winddirection, wind velocity, shot distance or other factors.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a method ofproviding and using a bow sight. The method can include providing a bowsight having (i) a base member attachable to a bow, (ii) a sight arraythat has multiple electronically selectively tightly spaced displayableaim indicators, (iii) an inclinometer, (iv) a range finder, and (v) aprocessor that cooperates with the inclinometer, range finder, and sightarray. The inclinometer transmits a signal relating to a shooting angleto the processor. The range finder transmits a signal relating to ashooting distance to the processor. Based on such signal(s), theprocessor determines which aim indicator within the sight array shouldbe illuminated, and correspondingly illuminates such aim indicator.

In yet another aspect, once installed on a bow and preliminarily sightedin, the bow sight can be entirely self-reliant and dynamicallyre-sighted in, or aim-corrected on a per-shot basis, based on theparticular use or environmental conditions at a particular point intime. Changes can be made to the bow dynamics or the arrow choice andcan be easily inputted or sighted in at a practice range to accommodatesuch changes.

According to other aspects, when it is desired to activate the bowsight, a user can depress a trigger upon or otherwise manipulatecontrols of the bow sight, initiating one or more of the multiplefunctions of the bow sight, in so doing. A processor can evaluatedistance and angle-related signals determined by the range finder andinclinometer and display or illuminate a particular aim indicator whileactively targeting the bow. In a preferred embodiment, the bow sightdisplays or illuminates an exact target dot LED, as the aim indicator,within a yard of the exact range distance and so within about an inch ofthe perfect target spot optimum. Such aim indicator is not a yardage orrange pin, such as those of the prior art, since, for example, each ofthe aim indicators is usable for a variety of different distancesdepending on various other situation-specific shooting and environmentalfactors at a given time.

According to some aspects, the bow sight is further configured forwindage or other wind-related correction by utilizing the anemometer todetermine prevailing wind characteristics and transmits at least onewind-related signal to the processor for evaluating whether an aimcorrection is required. In some embodiments, side wind direction andvelocity can be sensed or determined for correcting windage. Head windor tail wind direction and velocity can also be sensed or determined,for example, by way of a second anemometer or a component of the firstanemometer that is positioned in a forward or rearward-facing directionfor detecting head or tail winds. The head or tail wind-detectinganemometer can be implemented for correcting an elevation or verticalangle of arrow release since, e.g., shooting into a direct head wind ofabout 30 miles per hour may require an archer to elevate or verticallycompensate by shooting higher than the archer would if there was no windinfluence, in light of a corresponding arrow drop value associated withshooting into such head wind. Various wind components such as sidewinds, head winds, and tail winds can therefor be compensated for,independently of each other, or in a combined wind-related compensationprocedure.

In some aspects, the aim indicators may be spaced from each other toaccommodate shooting distance increments of less than about three yards,and preferably of no more than about one-yard increments.

The bow sight can further include an anemometer that transmitswind-related signals to the processor. Preferably, the wind-relatedsignals correspond to wind direction and/or wind velocity. Thisinformation can affect the ideal sighting position of the bow in boththe vertical and the horizontal planes.

The bow sight can perform situation-specific aim indication displaysand/or automatically perform various aiming corrections. For example, awindage correction step can be performed by illuminating an appropriateaim indicator based on the wind-related signal(s). As another example,an elevation or distance correction can be performed by illuminating anaim indicator based at least in part on shooting angle-related signals.

In yet another aspect, the method includes establishing a defaultsighted-in position of an aim indicator provided on a bow, evaluating ashooting distance defined between the bow and a target, and evaluating avertical shooting angle of the bow. A correcting procedure may beperformed by automatically illuminating an aim indicator that is spacedfrom the default sighted-in position, based on the evaluated shootingdistance and vertical shooting angle. The aim indicator movingcorrecting procedure may be performed automatically to compensate orcorrect for wind speed and/or wind direction, instead of or in additionto the previously mentioned shooting distance and angle values.

The bow sight may be configured to allow an archer to input bow andarrow characteristics, including speed and ballistics information, intothe bow sight, allowing a processor within the bow sight to usepredetermined tables stored in memory to optimize the aim indicatordisplay performance, that is, the bow sight's situation-specificshooting and environmental factor compensation performance, without needfor practice range manual calibration. This can provide a pick up andshoot capability in the field, with no further correction required. Suchbow and arrow characteristic inputs can be accessed on-line from avendor website or otherwise electronically obtained from a vendor, basedon manufacturer and model information. A PC-to-bow sight interface, suchas a USB cable, a wireless interface, or other suitable interface, canbe used to access pull down menus from the vendor's website for themanufacturer make and model of the bow, the arrow, the fletching, thebroadhead, etc. to input the true ballistic information to the bowsight, for example, as correction calibration setups.

A display may visually and/or audibly convey to an archer variousinformation relating to environmental or other conditions that may beconsidered during an aim-correcting procedure. For example, at least oneof the (i) shooting distance, (ii) vertical shooting angle, and (iii)wind speed and/or direction can be displayed to a user. The display canfurther indicate at least one of, e.g., a time of day, a legal huntbeginning time, a legal hunt ending time, a time remaining until thelegal hunt beginning time, and a time remaining until the legal huntending time.

In further aspects, the sight array may include multiple verticallyaligned aim indicators. The sight array may also include multiplehorizontally aligned aim indicators. The vertical and horizontal aimindicators may illuminate independently with respect to each other suchthat, in combination, they can define discrete points of intersectionthat are movable within the sight array depending on which vertical andhorizontal aim indicators are illuminated at any given time. The aimindicators may define discrete dots within the sight array. The sightarray may include a see-through panel that selectively illuminatesdiscrete dots and/or crosshairs, as precise aim indicators at calculatedaiming positions.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood,however, that the detailed description and specific examples, whileindicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, are given byway of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes andmodifications may be made within the scope of the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includesall such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which like reference characters represent likeparts throughout;

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an archery bow incorporating a bow sightaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the electronic components of the bowsight of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a back elevation of a variant of the bow sight of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a pictorial view of the front of the bow sight of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a pictorial view of the back of the bow sight of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a back elevation of the bow sight of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a pictorial view of the front of the bow sight of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a pictorial view of the back of the bow sight of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a back elevation view of a targeting sight being viewedthrough a peep sight;

FIG. 10 is a back elevation view of an aim indicator being viewedthrough a peed sight; and

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a variant of the sight array of the bowsight of FIG. 3.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing use steps of the bow of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As discussed in the “Summary” section above, the invention relates to abow sight that compensates for situation-specific shooting andenvironmental factors that can influence arrow flight, for example, byperforming a situation-specific aim evaluation and correction procedure.The preferred bow sight has selectively illuminating or displayable aimindicators that are illuminated or otherwise visually or audiblydisplayed at positions which compensate for such situation-specificshooting and environmental factors in a manner that allows an archer totake “dead aim” with, or aim directly at, an intended target at alltimes.

Various embodiments of a bow sight will now be described that achievethese and many other goals, it being understood that otherconfigurations may be provided that fall within the scope of the presentinvention. Such exemplary embodiments of the bow hunting accessorydevice of the present invention are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings in which like reference numerals represent like partsthroughout.

1. Bow Sight Overview

FIG. 1 show an automatically correcting bow sight 20 incorporated as asingle multi-functional unit onto a bow 5. Bow sight 20 of thisembodiment is configured so that, once it is set up and calibrated, itselectively displays an aiming indicia that is located at a calculatedaiming position in a manner that fully compensates for, e.g.,situation-specific shooting and environmental factors that can influencearrow flight characteristics, allowing an archer to take dead aim uponan intended impact position on a target, regardless of distance, bowangle, wind, and/or other arrow flight influencing factors.

Still referring to FIG. 1, bow 5 can be a typical compound archery bowhaving a riser 8 that serves as a main central body portion having anintegral handle 10 for holding the bow 5. Upper and lower limbs 12 and14 extend from upper and lower portions of the riser 8. Cams areoperably mounted to opposing ends of the limbs 12 and 14 and providemounting substrates to which the bowstring 16 is attached. A peep sight18 may be provided in or on the bowstring 16, above an arrow nock 19,allowing an archer to peer through the peep sight 18 while utilizing thebow sight 20. Peep sight 18 is preferably a conventional andcommercially available peep sight. When used in combination with the bowsight 20, peeps sight 18 is usable as an aiming tool, in a typicallysense, and also may be used by the archer while implementing the bowsight 20 to evaluate the situation-specific shooting and environmentalfactors, explained in greater detail elsewhere herein.

Referring generally now to FIGS. 1-8, bow sight 20 includes a base 25, asight array 30, a sensor system 40, and control and display system 100.The sight array 30 and sensor system 40 cooperate with each other toautomatically or otherwise compensate for various dynamically changingaiming, shooting, and/or environmental conditions. In this regard, thebow sight 20 can be properly sighted for various shooting ranges, andthe bow sight 20 will adjust and self-correct to allow a correctedcrosshair or other sight line or indicia to be displayed for alignmentwith the target. Stated another way, one or more aim indicia isselectively displayed in a manner that obviates the prior art'srequirement for an archer to manually compensate by aiming higher than,lower than, to the left of, or to the right of, or otherwise misalign ayardage pin with respect to an actually-intended arrow strike locationupon a target.

Bow sight 20 can account or compensate for variations in orcharacteristics of, e.g., (i) a range or distance between a bow and atarget, (ii) an angle to the horizontal, (iii) ballistic characteristicsof arrows, (iv) velocities of arrows at instances of shot release fromparticular bows, (v) jerk tendencies that an archer may display atmoments of arrow release, and (vi) various dynamically changingenvironmental factors including wind speed and direction. Bow sight 20automatically adjusts its setting and configuration based on suchvariations or characteristics. Bow sight 20 therefore allows an archerto always take “dead-aim” without having to over-aim, under-aim, orotherwise employ aim-compensation techniques. This is because theauto-correcting functionality of bow sight 20 ensures that, at any giventime, the bow sight 20 is properly sighted in for that particular bowconfiguration, arrow ballistics, shooting distance, shootinginclination, angle, or elevation, as well as wind-heading direction andvelocity. Stated another way, bow sight 20 dynamically sights itself in,on a “per-shot” basis, by deviating a displayed or illuminated positionof an aim indicator, with respect to a previously established defaultaim position, as a function of situation-specific shooting andenvironmental factors that can influence arrow flight characteristics.This can be done automatically or as desired and directed by the archer.The components of bow sight 20 will now be described in greater detail.

2. Base and Sight Array

Referring now to FIGS. 3-8, base 25 can attach directly to riser 8 ofbow 5 and preferably houses or provides mounting structure for theremaining components of bow sight 20. Sight array 30 extends from thebase 25 and provides, e.g., variably or selectively displayable,illuminating, or movable aiming indicia. Sight array 30 also provides atargeting sight 31 that is best seen in FIGS. 3 and 6. Targeting sight31 preferably has a cross-hair type configuration and further includes acrown 32 that extends in an arc across the top of the targeting sight31. The crown 32 is configured to align and register when viewed throughan archer's aiming eye, with an upper perimeter edge of a peep sight 18opening while performing a shot-distance or other situation-specificevaluation as described in greater detail elsewhere herein and as seenin FIG. 9. Sight array 30 may also provide audible indicia that assistin aiming.

Still referring to FIGS. 3-8, the particular configuration and “look” orappearance of sight array 30 of this embodiment is selected to providethe desired end use display characteristics. For example, the sightarray 30 can display or illuminate aiming indicia as one or more of (i)discrete dot-like aiming indicia, (ii) elongate vertical aiming indicia,(iii) elongate horizontal aiming indicia, (iv) crosshair type or otherintersecting elongate aiming indicia, and/or (v) others. The aimingindicia provided by the sight array 30 include one or more aimindicators 35. Each of the aim indicators 35 is alignable with the peepsight 18 and can be placed in or along the archer's line of sight, whilelooking through the peep sight 18, allowing the archer to visually placethe aim indicator(s) 35 upon intended arrow strike location of thetarget, for example, as seen in FIG. 10.

Still referring to FIGS. 3-8, the aim indicators 35 are selectivelydisplayable so that, when aiming and shooting, only the one or more aimindicators 35 that are positioned at a calculated aiming position arevisually conspicuous to the archer. Accordingly, in a normal defaultstate, most or all of the aim indicators 35 are not illuminated orotherwise visually conspicuous. However, during a situation-specific aimevaluation and correction procedure, a particular aim indicator 35 isilluminated or displayed at a position that corresponds to a calculatedor adjusted aiming position that corrects or compensates for one or moreof, for example, shooting distance or range, vertical shooting angle,wind speed, and/or wind direction explained in greater detail elsewhereherein.

Referring now to FIGS. 4-5 and 7-8, the intensity of the illumination ofaim indicators 35 can be varied or adjusted, either manually orautomatically. For implementations that include such variable oradjustable illumination intensities, the sight array 30 preferably alsoincludes an ambient light sensor 33 that can include, for example, oneor more ambient light-sensing avalanche diodes or other ambient lightsensing devices and corresponding controls. Regardless of the particularconfiguration of the sight sensor 33, it cooperates with and illuminatesor otherwise displays one or more aim indicators 35, optionally, tovariably display or illuminate intensity so that the aim indicators 35are brighter when there is more ambient light and dimmer when there isless ambient light to minimize eyestrain by the archer. This may beaccomplished, by providing aligned LEDs (light emitting diodes) as theaim indicators and suitably controlling their output intensity in aknown manner.

Referring now to FIG. 11, multiple aim indicators 35 can be provided inclose proximity to each other within a single mounting structure orsubstrate, such as a vertical light bar 122 and/or a horizontal lightbar 126. The vertical light bar automatically outputs, illuminates, ordisplays a vertical aiming dot 35A. The position of the vertical aimingdot 35A is calculated or determined so as to compensate for variables orfactors that influence a height component of arrow flight, such asdistance, headwinds, and/or other arrow drop effectuating stimulus.Generally the same is true for the horizontal light bar 126, whereby thehorizontal light bar 126 automatically outputs, illuminates, or displaysa horizontal aiming dot 35B. The position of the horizontal aiming dot35B is calculated or determined so as to compensate for variables orfactors that influence a transverse component of arrow flight, such aswindage effectuating stimulus, which can be a potentially large factorin arrow flight characteristics. In such embodiments, the archer isgiven independent vertical and horizontal compensation indication lightsby way of the vertical and horizontal aiming dots 35A, 35B. The archertherefore aims at an estimated position by vertically aligning thevertical dot 35A to the height of the intended strike position on thetarget and horizontally aligning the horizontal dot 35B with theintended strike position on the target.

Referring now to FIGS. 6-8, the illuminated or displayed aim indicators35 of this embodiment are located at precisely the calculated aimingpositions, negating the need for the archer to envision projectingand/or intersecting lines from the aiming dot(s) 35A, 35B. This isaccomplished by providing a transparent or see-through panel display asthe sight array 30 or at least as a part thereof. The see-through paneldisplay shows the aim indicators 35 as dots, crosshairs, or other aimingindicia depending on the particular end use configuration of the bowsight 20. Suitable see-through panels include, for example, (i)see-through liquid crystal displays (LCDs) which can selectively blackenareas to draw crosshairs, letters, and numbers, (ii) organiclight-emitting diode (OLED) displays which can be multi-colored, (iii)fast supertwist nematic (FSTN) displays, and/or others.

Alternatively, the illuminated or displayed aim indicators 35 may belocated at precisely the calculated aiming positions, but withoutimplementing the see-through panel display of FIGS. 6-8. This can beaccomplished by again providing multiple aligned LEDs (and/or otherlights) as the aim indicators 35 in an LED bank(s) from which fiberoptic strands, or light pipes extend. Such fiber optic strands or lightpipes can define, in combination, a discontinuous web or mesh that hasfibers or other portions that are selectively illuminated by the aimindicators 35 so that the aim indicators 35 and their cooperatingstrands or pipes intersect to define intersecting crosshairs at thecalculated aiming positions. The webs or meshes of this embodiment aresubstantially translucent or even transparent, allowing an archer to seethrough the webs or meshes relatively easily, in order to suitablyvisually identify the target. This makes the webs or meshes largelyanalogous to the see-through panel display discussed above, onlydefining a discontinuous surface thereof.

Regardless of the particular configuration of aim indicators 35, or thedevices which may illuminate or otherwise display the aim indicators 35,the particular aim indicator that is illuminated or displayed at anygiven time is selected based on its position such that taking “dead-aim”or aiming directly at a target with the aim indicator 35 suitablycorrects or compensates for situation-specific shooting andenvironmental factors that can influence arrow flight. Suchsituation-specific shooting and environmental factors are evaluated ordetected by sensor system 40.

3. Sensor System

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 7, sensor system 40 preferably is housed inthe base 25. It preferably includes a processor 80 as well as one ormore of a range finder 50, an inclinometer 60, and an anemometer 70. Thesensor system 40 can use data collected from the sensors to monitorparticular use conditions and control the sight array 30, instructing itto take corrective action based on such use conditions at a particularpoint in time based on input triggering. Stated another way, bymanipulating various controls 120 (explained in greater detail elsewhereherein) an archer can force the bow sight 20 to perform an aimcorrection. Optionally, multiple aim corrections can be performed bymanipulating the controls 120 a corresponding number of times. Theseinputs can also be used to input specific equipment data such as bowvelocity, arrow weight and other pertinent ballistic information.

Still referring to FIGS. 4 and 7, range finder 50 can include a laser 52that emits columnated light therefrom and a detector or receiver 54 thatreceives reflected light. The emitted and reflected light is preferredinfrared or otherwise non-visible. A suitable laser/detector assembly isavailable from any of a variety of manufacturers, including but notlimited to, e.g., Bushnell, Nikon, Leika, and other suppliers.Inclinometer 60 is configured to detect a vertical angle of inclinationor shooting angle of the bow 5, and is preferably housed entirely withinthe base 25 of bow sight 20. A suitable inclinometer is available fromany of a variety of manufacturers, including but not limited to, e.g.,Bushnell, Nikon, Leika, and other suppliers, and is preferably a 3-axisor 3D accelerometer based device.

Referring still to FIGS. 4 and 7, the anemometer 70 is as open to theenvironment as possible to sense wind velocity and/or direction.Anemometer 70 measures at least the wind velocity and also preferablymeasures wind direction relative to the archer's aiming direction.Stated another way, anemometer 70 can sense potentially lateral ortransverse flight path influencing side winds, potentially deceleratinghead winds, or potentially accelerating tail winds, allowing suchwind-related factors to be compensated for, independently or otherwise.This permits aiming compensation for the lateral as well as verticaland/or other flight direction related wind speed effects on the flightof the arrow.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 5, and 7, processor 80 preferably is housedentirely within the base 25. Processor 80 includes any suitablecomputing resource(s) such as, for example, a memory device and amicroprocessor with an operating system that cooperates with the memorydevice. The processor 80 can receive and store, for example, on thememory device, bow and arrow characteristic data directly from theuser's computer. This data may be acquired, e.g., from the bow sightmanufacturer's website. Models are user selectable and can be changed asthe archer modifies his/her equipment. Processor 80 also dynamicallyreceives signals that are transmitted from the range finder 50,inclinometer 60, and anemometer 70 and determines if an aim indicator 35correction should be made, and, if so, what correction should occur.Processor 80 thus serves as a decision maker and a controller of the bowsight 20.

4. Display System

Referring again to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, control and display system 100includes display 110 and controls 120. The control and display system100 is configured to convey information to the archer regarding varioususe or environmental conditions. For example, the display 110 candisplay such data as shooting distance, shooting angle, wind speed anddirection, or other information, depending on the particularconfiguration of processor 80 and/or the display system 100, itself. Inyet other implementations, the display 110 can show at least one of,e.g., a time of day, a legal hunt beginning time, a legal hunt endingtime, a time remaining until the legal hunt beginning time, and a timeremaining until the legal hunt ending time, or other information asdesired. Regardless of the particular information that is being conveyedby the display 110, it may be incorporated into the bow sight 20 as astand-alone screen, as seen in FIG. 5. Alternatively, the display 110can be incorporated into the sight array 30, as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7.

Referring again to FIGS. 4-5 and 7-8, controls 120 are provided as auser interface for triggering or activating the bow sight 20. Thecontrols 120 include a trigger button 121 and multiple other buttons,dials, or other suitable user interface devices, that are adapted tonavigate through menus shown on the display 110, and/or otherwise inputinformation or data into the bow sight 20 or activate features of thebow sight 20. In other words, triggering or activating the bow sight 20by way of controls 120 allows the processer 80 to start taking inputsdirectly from the archer or accepting and evaluating signals from thesensor system 40, whereby a predicted arrow flight path can bedetermined and a single aim indicator 35 can be illuminated based onsuch evaluation(s). Controls 120 may be configured to allow an archerto, e.g., change or modify the information selected for display by thecontrol and display system 100, and/or control other functions of thebow sight 20. The controls 120 may comprise one or more of buttons,arrows, or dials. A trigger is currently preferred.

5. Bow Sight Use

Referring now to FIG. 12, bow sight 20 is preferably used in thefollowing way. During an installation block 205, the bow sight 20 isphysically installed on bow 5, preferably as a single unitary assembly.Once installed, a preliminary set up block 210 is performed to suitablyalign the bow sight 20 or its various components, e.g., the aimindicators 35 with an arrow rest, handle 10, riser 8, or other portionsof the bow 5. Next, a calibration block 215 is performed to manuallyand/or automatically instruct the bow sight 20 as to how much correctionor compensation is needed, in light of different arrow flightinfluencing factors, for the particular bow 5 upon which the bow sight20 is installed. Once calibrated, the bow sight 20 is ready forfield-use in which the bow sight 20, as initiated by the archer,performs a situation-specific aim evaluation block 220 and a situationspecific aim correction block 225 based on such evaluation block 220.During the aim correction block 225, an aim indictor 35 is illuminatedor otherwise displayed at a calculated or otherwise determined aimingposition that compensates or corrects for the particular factors thatwere evaluated.

The steps of this using bow sight 20 will now be described in greaterdetail.

6. Installation and Preliminary Set Up

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 5, 7, and 12, bow sight 20 is preferablyimplemented and installed on bow 5 as a single unitary assembly withconventional hardware during the installation block 205. Once physicallyinstalled on the bow, during the preliminary set up block 210, the bowsight 20 is sighted in to a default sighted-in position with the line ofsite from the peep site through the bowsight crosshairs parallel to thearrow flight and the vertical crosshair in the plane of the bow stringtravel. The setup procedure or preliminary set up block 210 is used tophysically position and align the targeting sight 31 upon the bow 5 sothat a default sighting-in position may be established for the bow sight20.

Establishing the default sighted-in position of the bow sight 20 ispreferably done mechanically by, e.g., adjusting hardware of, andphysically moving the sight array 30 components thereof, and/or othercomponents of the bow sight 20, so that the targeting sight 31 isproperly aligned with respect to the bow 5. Seen best in FIGS. 5 and 7,the hardware, such as, a bracket(s) that includes rails, tracks, orslides, connects the sight array 30 and base 25 to the bow 5, whileallowing the sight array 30 to be movable with respect to the bow 5 andits arrow rest, as needed for sighting in bow sight 20. By using suchhardware, the targeting sight 31 is positioned vertically, angularly,and horizontally with respect to the arrow and its arrow rest, bowstring16, and peep sight 18. Namely, the targeting sight 31 is moved to andthen fixed at a position in which the targeting sight 31 (or itscrosshairs) lies within (i) a line of sight that extends linearlydefined through the peep sight 18 and that is parallel to the arrow whenthe bow 5 is fully drawn, and (ii) a vertical plane that extends forwardfrom the bowstring 16 and that longitudinally bisects the arrow.

Alternatively, the default sighted-in position of the bow sight 20 maybe established by a combined hardware adjustment and softwaremanipulation. This can be accomplished by combining at least parts ofthe above-described procedures for physically moving the sight array 30,and for using the controls 120 to manipulate software of the processor80 to establish the default sighted-in position of aim indicator 35,both of which are discussed above and therefore are not repeated here.As with the above-discussed hardware-only default sighting-in procedure,the combined hardware and software procedure need not require theshooting of any arrows, but instead, may be a largely geometric-basedalignment procedure for spatially positioning the crosshairs of thetargeting sight 31 in a suitable location upon the particular bow 5.

7. Correction Calibration

Still referring to FIGS. 2, 5, 7, and 12, once the targeting sight 31has been properly positioned to define the default sighted-in positionof bow sight 20, the bow sight 20 can accurately display an aimindicator 35 once certain bow set-up variables have been entered, inother words as based on the situation-specific shooting factors byimplementing bow set-up variables such as arrow weight, the fully drawndistance between the peep sight 18 and the crosshairs of the targetingsight 31, arrow release speed from the bow 5. Preferably, only arrowrelease speed or bow launch velocity, arrow weight, and/or the fullydrawn distance between the peep sight 18 and the crosshairs of thetargeting sight 31, are entered to allow the bow sight 20 to accuratelydisplay an aim indicator 35 based on a specific shooting situation.Various ones of such inputs can be initially programmed into the bowsight 20 manually or automatically and then further tuned, fine-tuned,and/or calibrated either manually or automatically, depending on theparticular configuration of the bow sight 20. Stated another way, thebow sight 20 may be at least partially programmed or preprogrammed withassumed or average values for such bow-setup variables, which can becalibrated to adjust for, for example, actual aerodynamic arrow dragand/or other actual values of the particular setup or configuration ofbow 5.

7a. Manual Calibration

Referring yet further to FIGS. 2, 5, 7, and 12, manual calibration mayperformed during the calibration block 215 without any previouslydetermined ballistics information for the particular setup of bow 5. Fortypical implementations, the manual calibration uses tools, devices, andinformation that is readily available at typical archery shops orranges. Information can be inputted into the bow sight 20, allowing theprocessor 80 to determine a best fitting one of multiple preloadedcalibration setups that can be used as a starting point for the manualcalibration. For example, an arrow speed measuring device is used todetermine arrow launch speed which is entered into the bow sight 20.Preprogrammed calibrations can include, (i) a first calibration setupfor bows having known arrow speeds of less than 200 feet per second,(ii) a second calibration setup for bows having known arrow speeds ofbetween about 200 feet per second to about 250 feet per second, (iii) athird calibration setup for bows having known arrow speeds of betweenabout 250 feet per second to about 300 feet per second, and (iv) afourth calibration setup for bows having known arrow speeds of greaterthan about 300 feet per second.

Other information that can be used by the processor 80 in determining asuitable initial calibration setup can include arrow-specific setups,whereby the initial calibration procedure programs the processor 80 toconsider, not only bow performance characteristics, but also arrow andarrow-related characteristics which can influence arrow flight. Sucharrow-related characteristics include, but are not limited to, arrowmanufacturer and model, arrow material composition, arrow length, arrowweight, and fletching size and type. Other arrow-related characteristicscan include broadhead manufacturer and model, broadhead weight, numberof blades, and/or others.

After the information has been entered into the bow sight 20 and theprocessor 80 selects and loads the most appropriate or best fittinginitial calibration setup, then actual shooting performance is evaluatedand adjustments to the calibration setup are made until automatic aimingcorrections are being suitably achieved via corrected data andcalculations internal to the unit. To do this, bow 5 is shot at longrange, preferably at a target that is approximately 50 yards out, anduses the controls 120 to select a tuning or calibration adjustment modefor the bow site 20.

Referring still to FIGS. 2, 5, and 7, and referring generally to amanual calibration procedure, after putting the bow site 20 into thetuning or calibration adjustment mode, the archer can manually calibrateor tune the correction calibration of the bow site 20 via a simple trialand error session setting at a shot range. The archer would simply hitthe trigger or manipulate other components of the controls 120 as manytimes as is required to adjust the height or lateral position of the aimindicator 35 to compensate for realized targeted shot error due to thesituation-specific shooting and environmental factors that influencearrow flight at that moment, such as shooting elevation or bowinclination or wind speed and direction. Regardless, there are notypical screws or yardage pins to adjust. Instead, all the adjustmentscan be made electronically with the touch of the trigger button 121 orother input device of controls 120.

Referring now more specifically to the manual calibration procedure, thearcher aligns the crown 32 of the targeting sight 31 with the top edgeof the peep sight opening, centers the crosshairs of the targeting sight31 within the peep sight 18 and depresses the trigger 121 to evaluatethe particular distance and shot angle to the target, as seen in FIG. 9.Then, based on the evaluated distance, shot angle and the initialcalibration setup, the processor 80 determines or calculates an aimingposition that compensates for the arrow drop that is expected at thatparticular shooting distance based on ballistics that are either knownor estimated. The processor 80 commands the illumination or display ofan aim indicator 35 at the particular calculated aiming position. Thearcher tilts the bow 5 upward, moving the targeting sight 31 out of thepeep sight 18 and centering the aim indicator 35 within the peep sight18, as seen in FIG. 10, aiming at the bulls-eye of the target, andshoots or releases the arrow.

This procedure preferably is repeated three or more times to establish ashot pattern. The archer evaluates where the shot pattern is locatedversus where the archer aimed and adjusts the bow sight 20 as needed.This adjustment calibrates the bow sight 20 accordingly. For example, ifthe shot pattern is grouped below the bulls-eye, then the archer canadjust the sight so that a lower aim indicator 35 will be displayed atthat same distance which will raise the arrow position upon the target.This result is likely due to inputs that underestimate the aerodynamicdrag of the arrow. By making the correction this drag factor will beappropriately increased for all shot circumstances in the future such asnew distances, angles and wind speeds and direction. In someembodiments, such adjustment is performed by pressing and holding one ofthe buttons of the input 120 for a predetermined amount of time, forexample, 3 seconds. This is repeated until the archer is satisfied withthe distance compensation or correction being performed by the bow sight20, by making incremental, one LED dot at a time, adjustments that canmove the shot grouping about 2 or 3 inches per adjustment at 50 yards,with each of the changes that is made to the calibration being saved inthe memory of the bow sight 20.

Referring specifically now to FIG. 6-8 and the tunability oradjustability of LCD or other see through display incorporating sightarrays 30, at a shooting distance of 50 yards and with a 30-inchdistance between the peep sight 18 and the targeting sight 31, aresolution of 0.6 inch at the target is achieved. This allows movementof the aim indicator 35 on the LCD screen by 0.010″ (0.25 mm) incrementsboth horizontally and vertically, which makes adjustments on the targetpoint 50 yards away that are in increments of 0.6″ on each axis.

The manual calibration or calibration-correcting procedures, are equallyapplicable to the lateral or windage corrections. Accordingly, the samegeneral procedure may be followed to manually adjust the amount ofcorrection that was calculated to compensate for the windage factors.The bow sight 20 is placed in tuning or calibration adjustment mode, andthe archer shoots and evaluates the shot pattern while enduring a sidewind. If the shot pattern is not suitably close to the intended impactarea of the target, then correction is done incrementally, one LED at atime, until the amount of transverse or windage compensation performedby the bow sight 20 is found acceptable.

7b. Automatic Calibration

Referring still to FIGS. 2, 5, and 7, the calibration block 215 may beperformed automatically by using previously-determined ballisticsinformation for the particular setup of the bow and the arrows beingused. Here again, the memory device of the bow sight 20 preferably hasmultiple preloaded calibration setups that correspond to knownperformance characteristics of various bow manufacturers and models. Auser activates one of multiple stored calibration setups by entering acode, through controls 120, that corresponds to the particular bow beingused. Optionally, the multiple stored calibration setups are stored onexternal media, for example, on a CD or other electronic media device.In yet other embodiments, the calibration setups are stored remotely andare accessible, for example, through the Internet or by way of someother electronic network that allows users to download bow-specificcalibration setups, optionally, updated bow-specific calibration setups.

As one example of a suitable automatic calibration procedure, an archercan log into the bow sight vendor's website and request ballisticinformation for his Acme Model 1240 bow and his Delta Model 810 arrows.In this example, the archer may download information indicating that aModel 810 Delta arrow will travel at an initial velocity of 200 feet persecond and drop 110 inches over a 50-yard flight path when shothorizontally from the fully-drawn Acme Model 1240 bow. Once therequested ballistic information is obtained, it can be downloaded intothe memory device that cooperates with processor 80 using, e.g., a USBcable that plugs into a port 81 (FIGS. 4 and 7), a wireless transmitter,or other suitable hardware. Once the correction calibration is done, thearcher may, if desired, test the calibration and/or adjust thecalibration by way of the above-discussed manual calibration procedures,and then use the bow sight 20 to perform situation-specific aimevaluations and corrections although little if any are required.

8. Initiating Situation-Specific Evaluation

Referring still to FIGS. 2, 5, 7, and 12, the archer initiates thesituation-specific aim evaluation block 220 in which one or more of thesensors of sensor system 40 determines a corresponding value at thatinstant or for that specific situation and transmits such value (or asignal corresponding thereto) to the processor 80. Stated another way,during the evaluation block 220, the sensor system 40 surveys orevaluates various situation-specific shooting and environmental factorsthat may influence arrow flight, and communicates its findings to theprocessor 80. The evaluation can be initiated by, for example, pullingthe trigger button 121 or depressing another button of controls 120.Doing so activates at least one of the shooting and environmentalfactor-detecting components of sensor system 40. In other words, one ormore of the range finder 50, inclinometer 60, and anemometer 70 detectsa value for respective ones of target distance, bow angle, and windspeed and direction, and transmits such values to the processor 80. Theprocessor 80 then displays or illuminates a specific aim indicator 35 ata calculated precise aiming position that compensates or corrects forsuch values detected by the sensor system 40.

Such information or values detected by the sensor system 40 are comparedwith the corresponding default sighted-in values. For example, processor80 compares actual or situation-specific shooting distance values,determined by range finder 50, to the previously established defaultsighted-in distance. The actual or situation-specific bow angle valuesthat are determined by inclinometer 60 are compared to the defaultsighted-in bow angle. The actual or situation-specific wind speed anddirection values that are determined by anemometer 70 are compared tothe default sighted-in wind speed and direction values.

Referring now to FIGS. 5, 7, 9-10, and 12, during a typical field use ofthe bow sight 20, when the archer sees a game animal, the archer nocksan arrow and fully draws the bow 5. The archer then centers thetargeting sight 31 in the peep sight 18 (FIG. 9) and pulls and releasesthe trigger button 121 which activates the range finder 50 and displaysthe shooting distance to the animal on the display 110. At the sametime, if the bow sight 20 includes an inclinometer and/or anemometer,then the shooting angle and wind direction and speed are also evaluatedat the same time and corresponding signals are sent to the processor 80.

9. Situation-Specific Aim Correction

Referring again to FIGS. 2, 5, 7, and 12, after the processor 80receives such signals, the processor 80 determines the extent that theactual or situation-specific distance, bow angle, and wind speed anddirection values deviate or differ from the corresponding defaultsighted-in values. During a situation specific aim correction block 225,the processor 80 uses an algorithm or other programming to evaluate suchvalues in light of the particular calibration that is stored in thememory of the bow sight 20, so as to calculate a precise aiming positionthat is required to compensate or correct for such deviations. Theprocessor 80 then illuminates or displays an aim indicator(s) 35 that isclosest to the calculated precise aiming position, allowing the archerto take dead aim at the animal by tilting the bow 5 until the aimindicator 35 is centered in the peep sight 18 (FIG. 10) and aligned uponthe desired arrow strike location on the animal.

The following example describes, in detail, one suitable manner in whichthe processor 80 determines how much compensation or correction isrequired in a vertical direction and thus which aim indicator(s) 35should be illuminated or otherwise displayed. In the embodiment in whicharrow ballistic information is programmed or stored in the memory of thebow sight 20, the processor may mathematically calculate an angle ofcompensation that is required for taking dead aim at a particular targetby using the values determined during the preceding evaluation block220. Namely, the processor 80 considers values for a shooting distance(D) to the target as provided by the range finder 50, and an angle(theta) of the arrow in the drawn bow 5 with respect to the horizontalas provided by the inclinometer 60.

From such information, the processor 80 calculates a horizontal traveldistance of the arrow by the formula D×cosine (theta). The processor 80calculates an arrow flight time based on the horizontal travel distanceof the arrow in light of the known arrow ballistics information such asone or more of, e.g., arrow exit speed from the bow, arrow weight, andarrow aerodynamic drag of the arrow. The processor 80 then uses thearrow flight time to calculate an amount of predicted arrow drop and/orcorresponding angle of compensation required, as a function of the arrowflight time and the acceleration of gravity. The processor 80illuminates or otherwise displays a particular aim indicator 35 to forcethe archer to tilt the bow by the angle of compensation that wascalculated to assure an accurate shot is made.

Regardless of the particular way in which the processor 80 determineswhich aim indicator to illuminate or otherwise display, the aimindicator 35 stays illuminated or displayed for a predetermined amountof time, for example, 30 seconds or 1 minute, after thesituation-specific aim evaluation and correction and thesituation-specific aim evaluation and correction procedure starts overeach time the archer commands such an evaluation and correction, forexample, each time the archer pulls or depresses the trigger button 121or another button of controls 120. This feature allows an archer torepeat the process if the animal moves or if, e.g., the wind conditionschange while the bow 5 is drawn, so as to update the evaluation and, ifneeded, illuminate or display a different aim indicator 35 based on theexact conditions at that particular time.

Many changes and modifications may be made to the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit thereof. The scope of some of thesechanges is discussed above. The scope of others will become apparentfrom the appended claims.

We claim:
 1. An auto-correcting bow sight, comprising: (A) a range finder supported on a bow incorporating the auto-correcting bow sight, the range finder determining range to target information; (B) a processor supported on the bow and receiving information from the range finder; (C) multiple aim indicators that are operably connected to the processor, wherein the processor controls which of the multiple aim indicators is displayed at a given time based on the range to target information; and (D) a manually actuated input device that is operably connected to the processor and that can be actuated for beginning an evaluation by the processor that determines which of the multiple aim indicators to display based on the range to target information, and wherein the manually actuated input device is arranged upon the bow to allow actuation of the input device by an archer when the bow is in either an undrawn or a fully drawn position. 